Ben Fields was the man shot by police after he reportedly called them saying he was thinking about killing his wife in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Monday evening, officials said.
He was 67 years old. Officials said the man called police at about 4 p.m., saying he was thinking about killing his wife. Port St. Lucie police responded and found him with a knife. Police said they ordered Benjamin Fields to drop the knife immediately, but said he advanced on them. Two officers fired shots at him as he advanced toward them, police said.
The man was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
No officers were injured.
The shooting happened at 3200 SW block of Constellation Road, where officers responded at about 4:05 p.m. after the phone call.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting.
The man was not immediately identified. Investigators planned a press conference for 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The two officers were placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation.
At about 6:45 p.m., Port St. Lucie Police wrote on Twitter, “Officer involved shooting in PSL. On 7/1/19, 4:05 pm, officers went to home at 3200 blk SW Constellation Rd for domestic disturbance. FDLE investigating case. No further information at this time.”
They updated their information at about 11 p.m., writing, “@PSLPolice UPDATE, Ofcs met male inside home, armed w/knife. Male refused to disarm himself, male advanced towards offcrs, 2ofcs dischrged firearms/struck male. Male transprted 2 hosp &pronounced deceased. Ofcs NOT physically harmed. PSLPD PRESS CONF Tues, 7/2/19 10am-Police Dept”
Port St. Lucie is a city on southern Florida’s Atlantic coast, about 50 miles south of West Palm Beach.
Police had been called to the address in June for a medical call, according to Port St. Lucie police.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Ben Fields Called Police Himself Before The Shooting
Port St. Lucie police responded to the Constellation Road address after a phone call from Fields himself. He called police to tell them he was thinking about killing his wife, they said.
Police first released the information that the shooting stemmed from a domestic incident at about 6:45 p.m.
“Officer involved shooting in PSL,” police wrote on Twitter. “On 7/1/19, 4:05 pm, officers went to home at 3200 blk SW Constellation Rd for domestic disturbance. FDLE investigating case. No further information at this time.”
2. Ben Fields Was Shot By Police And Died
@PSLPolice UPDATE, Ofcs met male inside home, armed w/knife. Male refused to disarm himself, male advanced towards offcrs, 2ofcs dischrged firearms/struck male. Male transprted 2 hosp &pronounced deceased. Ofcs NOT physically harmed. PSLPD PRESS CONF Tues, 7/2/19 10am-Police Dept
Ben Fields was shot by two Port St. Lucie officers when he allegedly advanced on them holding a knife which he refused to drop after multiple commands, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
It was unclear exactly when Fields died or how many times he was shot. Police released the information the man died at about 11 p.m., roughly seven hours after the shooting.
Police wrote on Twitter, “@PSLPolice UPDATE, Ofcs met male inside home, armed w/knife. Male refused to disarm himself, male advanced towards offcrs, 2ofcs dischrged firearms/struck male. Male transprted 2 hosp &pronounced deceased. Ofcs NOT physically harmed. PSLPD PRESS CONF Tues, 7/2/19 10am-Police Dept”
3. Ben Fields Told Police He Was Thinking About Killing His Wife
. @PSLPolice: two officers shot man who called police saying he was thinking of killing his wife. Police say he approached them with a knife and wouldn’t drop it after multiple demands. Man died in hospital @WPTV
Ben Fields was the person who made the phone call which prompted police to respond to the Constellation Street address, where he was fatally shot. He told officers he was thinking about killing his wife, police said.
When officers arrived, he was allegedly holding a knife and refused to drop it. He allegedly advanced on them, prompting two officers to fire shots. He later died at a hospital.
Meghan McRoberts with WPB-TV wrote on Twitter, “. @PSLPolice: two officers shot man who called police saying he was thinking of killing his wife. Police say he approached them with a knife and wouldn’t drop it after multiple demands. Man died in hospital @WPTV”
4. Police Had Been Called To Ben Fields’ Address In June
Port St. Lucie Police were called to Ben Fields’ address before after they responded to a medical call in June, according to Port St. Lucie Police.
Officers did not release any details about the call.
5. Both Officers Are On Paid Administrative Leave
Both officers who fired shots are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to Port St. Lucie Police.
The law enforcement agency is completing the investigation for transparency. Port St. Lucie Police said preliminary investigations show it appeared the officers followed correct procedures.